Theory of Atom in Jaina Philosophy

SR No.: 011108
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jethalal S Zaveri, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Agam and Sahitya Prakashan
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 159
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

Page 18

THE JAINA PHILOSOPHY to the doctrines of Heraclitus If we replace the word 'fire' by the word 'energy' we can almost repeat his statement word for word from our modern point of view Each manifestation of energy involves either matter in motion or a change in its physical state, which we designate as physical energy, a change in the chemical constitution of matter, which we know as chemical energy, or a combination of the two Physical energy can be converted into chemical energy and vice versa The chemical energy stored in the plant manifests itself by an increase in the plant as weight as compared with that of its original constituents Similarly, the release of the energy manifests itself through a loss in the total weight of the plants as substance Energy is, in fact, the substance from which all elementary particles, all atoms and therefore all things are made, and energy is that which moves Energy is a substance since its total amount does not change, and that the elementary particles can actually be made from this substance is seen in many experiments on the creation of elementary particles Energy can be called the fundamental cause for all change in the world But comparison of Greek philosophy with the ideas of modern science will be discussed later
Parmenides (450 BC) denied the existence of empty space for logical reasons Since all change required empty space, as he assumed, he dismissed the change as an illusion Where Heraclitus maintained that everything changes, Parmenides retorted that nothing changes What the subsequent philosophy accepted from Parmenides was not the impossibility of all change but the indestructibility of substance
Empedocles (440 BC), younger contemporary of